CHINA achieved a hat trick of gold medals in the Asian Games women’s field hockey after ousting South Korea in a penalty shootout yesterday.

    The hosts, cheered on by some 1,000 home fans in the final, clinched the tie-breaker 5-4 after both teams were locked goalless at the end of extra time.

    Kim Eun-sil missed the first penalty stroke for the Koreans, while the Chinese converted all their five shots and sealed the win when Sun Sinan beat goalkeeper Moon Young-hui.

    China, which won the title in Busan in 2002 and repeated the feat in Doha four years later, booked a direct entry to the 2012 London Olympics with its victory.

    The Koreans, winners of four gold medals and two silvers since women’s hockey was introduced at the 1982 Asiad in New Delhi, had failed to bag a medal at Doha.

    They failed to avenge the 2-1 defeat in the final at home in Busan in 2002.

    Earlier, Japan took the bronze medal with a 1-0 over India.

    (SD-Agencies)